Bid management
Join Wates and help us win new business as part of our brilliant Bid team. It’s fast-paced, challenging, and rewarding — a place where your career can thrive.
Join Wates and help us win new business as part of our brilliant Bid team. It’s fast-paced, challenging, and rewarding — a place where your career can thrive.
THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE TO BUILD YOUR CAREER
Wates has just enjoyed one of our best years ever, and our Bid team played a key role in supporting that success.
It’s not just about writing bids. There are a huge range of roles from bid proposal managers to estimators, project management, graphic designers, building information modelling (BIM), 4d modellers and more. Once you’re here, you can also tap into opportunities across the group.
At Wates, we believe in actively identifying talent and nurturing it. We make sure everyone has opportunities to develop and take their career to the next level. If we think you’re 80% ready for that next step, and you’re up for the challenge, we’ll help you take it.
HELP YOUR CAREER TO THRIVE
Whether you’re an experienced bid writer, fancy a career change, or are returning to work after a break, we’d love to hear from you.
If you don’t have industry experience, don’t worry. In our bid team, we value a variety of transferable skills you may already possess, such as writing, attention to detail, project management, and relationship building.
That’s why our team includes people from diverse backgrounds, including law, education, and finance. What matters most to us is finding the right people with the right mindset to succeed.
CAREERS IN BID MANAGEMENT
Proposals Manager
Location: Kilburn
Job Type: Bid
Application Deadline: 05-09-2025
We’re looking for a Proposals Manager to support our growing bid pipeline in London, with a particular emphasis on high-quality bid writing emphasis and bid coordination.The role of Proposals Manager will write persuasive, creative, compelling, and focused responses for bid opportunities including presentations and other quality related activities, ensuring our submissions are compelling, compliant, and aligned with Wates’ brand and values.As a Proposals Manager, you will: Work with the Senior Proposal Manager and wider team in development responses that are attractive, concise and bring out the benefits of our offer Facilitate quality question workshops and meetings with the wider bid team to share knowledge and develop a strategy to answer quality questions Manage and communicate relevant market and competitor data Check the quality and consistency of responses in terms of themes, messages, key phrases and key words Effectively liaise with key stakeholders across the business to ensure access to accurate and up-to-date company information on structure, accounts, safety stats etc. Produce Presentations, Brochures, Marketing Material to support pre/post bid work and business developmentWHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… One of the best learning and development programmes which is customizable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the WATES Group) Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity.To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/
Senior Estimator
Location: Finsbury Park
Job Type: Estimating
Application Deadline: 04-09-2025
Senior Estimator – London (Finsbury)As part of our strategic growth, we’re looking for a Senior Estimator to join our WPS team based in Finsbury, London. This is a high-impact role where you’ll lead the preparation of multi-million-pound tenders, helping us secure profitable work and shape the future of our Estimating function.You’ll be working at the heart of our WPS Housing Maintenance operations, with a strong focus on responsive repairs, voids maintenance, and compliance. Your understanding of commercial models such as Price per Property, Schedule of Rates, and Price per Repair will be key to developing competitive and efficient proposals.Key Responsibilities Interpret ITT documents to identify risks, opportunities, and submission requirements. Lead the preparation and submission of tenders, ensuring compliance with internal processes. Present commercial proposals at key tender meetings and engage with senior stakeholders across the business. Collaborate with Operational and Commercial leads to develop innovative delivery solutions. Determine the most cost-effective proposals using labour analysis, subcontractor quotations, and delivery models. Populate client pricing documents accurately and on time. Line manage and mentor a team of two Estimators.What We’re Looking ForYou’ll be a confident communicator and strategic thinker with a strong commercial mindset. Your CV should demonstrate: Proven experience in the housing maintenance sector, particularly in responsive and voids workstreams. A solid grasp of bid tactics and pricing strategies across various commercial models. The ability to lead, influence, and inspire a team.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting One of the Recruitment Team will be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of the next step.
Bid Writer
Location: Finsbury Park
Job Type: Bid
Application Deadline: 04-09-2025
📌 Job Title: Bid Writer📍 Location: Finsbury Park (WPS)🕒 Full-time ¦ Permanent🔍 Purpose of the RoleWe are looking for a talented and driven Bid Writer to join our WPS team for a National position. This is a pivotal role in our pre-construction function, where you’ll be responsible for producing high-quality, professional submission documents that reflect the strength of our business and align with customer expectations.You’ll play a key part in developing tailored, compelling content for Selection Questionnaires (SQs) and bid submissions, helping us secure new opportunities that support our strategic growth.🧩 Key Responsibilities Manage the production and quality of written content for PQQs and bid submissions Collaborate with Bid Managers and subject matter experts to develop clear, concise, and persuasive responses Ensure consistency of messaging, tone, and presentation across all documents Maintain and develop a library of model answers, CVs, and project profiles Produce mini customer plans and support the creation of brochures and publicity materials Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to gather accurate and up-to-date information Support the bid production process, including document control, Salesforce updates, and tender launch meetings📚 Knowledge, Skills & QualificationsKnowledge of: The bidding and tendering process Customer expectations and industry best practices WPS systems and internal processesSkills: A creative and compelling writer with a strong grasp of tone and structure Excellent project management and organisational skills Ability to manage multiple deadlines and stakeholders Strong attention to detail and a flair for document design and presentation Confident communicator who can build relationships across teams Adaptable, proactive, and calm under pressure🌟 Why Join WPS?WPS delivers repairs and maintenance to over 500,000 homes across the UK, offering planned and reactive maintenance and integrated asset management for social housing landlords. You’ll be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team that values innovation, quality, and customer focus.📩 Ready to make an impact?Apply now and help us shape the future of property services through powerful, persuasive storytelling.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting Once you apply one of the Recruitment Team will be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of the next step.